My dogs are pets, tho I haven’t ruled out the possibility of having a go at working them. So, as pets, part of the fun/pleasure is interacting with them and I like having them indoors. If we/they need time-out, they stay in the kitchen. I can see advantages of a kennel/run when the dogs are wet/muddy or to keep the dust/hair out of the house.

I think it depends on a few things, what you want the dogs for, pets or working, the dog's nature, your accommodation and family members for a start.

We were told kenneled dogs are easier to train and in our case they have been, we have 3 children so the possibility of them being ruined were high, we wanted them predominantly for working and we have the space to kennel them outside. I have friends with working dogs that live in and they are no different in the field to kenneled dogs, it all comes down to personal choice and the dog's temperament.

The idea they are easier to train may come from the fact that they are more focused on you for training, you are the provider of food, freedom and exciting work.

I wish we had had our two in a little longer when pups as now they are not very house friendly, bomb around and jump all over the sofa etc, which can be a prob when they need to be in after a vets visit etc. I would still have them out though after IMHO

Good luck with the pup what ever you decide to do



(shootingcommunity.co.uk is out of action at the mo, admin needs to put some more money in the meter )

I was totally persuaded and worn down into getting a springer pup by my OH and son.

I said ok as long as he/she lived outside not in my home with cream carpets lol
A wonderful Kennel and run was built and we picked up dottie.
No way would I let her stay out there on her own at 8 weeks old its just seemed wrong to me. She was def going in there when she was older
I fell in love with her and had to persuade OH and son that another springer Cassie would be a good idea
OH said ok as long as they live outside, I agreed
They lived in the kennel for 2 nights and I kept getting up to see if they were ok
Pleaded with OH to let them live in the house.
OH said ok but they sleep on the floor and they are def not going on the furniture
The girls are 2 years old now , they sleep wherever they want too We all try to get some space on the sofa
The girls are quicker than us.
The Kennel and run is Redundant
Personally I wouldn't want it any other way
On a serious note i think that if we had kept them in their kennel they would have been fine.
We make our choices.

jrow1 I'm really sorry but

I bought the kennel and run and was eager to get the dogs out there in the day for a couple of hours mmm think it was £400 that could have been spent on something better

I remember a friend saying to me 'You had better use it if you are going to get it'
well it's been used but not for the purpose it's meant for as it has a roof and is sheltered it came in handy to have the BBQ in the other week

Oh Jill that made me laugh

For those who kennel their dogs, do you allow them indoors at all for time with you and are they kenneled alone or with company?

Also Evil Eyes when will the shooting community forum be back, starting to get withdraw symptoms now

Amanda

My two were kenneled together but one is a treats monster and the other would just bark when he got left with no toys or bones they are now in one large kennel but separated down the middle, they can both have bones and Kong's more often that way.

They come out in the garden with us under control at various times during the day, they get walked together but trained separately and they come in the house now and again but not together cause they wind each other up and it's too mad

The Gun Dog Club website is very good for trainng information.

Hi All,

As I started the post I only felt right to update you in terms of the progress we are making!!

Okay, Jake (name of dog!) is now 16week old. He loves his new home outside and never once tried to cross the threshold of the door!! He sems to be very happy and not peed off when it rains!!!

In terms of training, hmmm, well.... Generally pretty good, sitting on commend, returing when called and we have got the staying pretty much down to a tee now. Obviously still plenty of work to do but chuffed to bits with his progress! We are also using whistles which have proved to be a huge sucess. We dont want to bring him on too soon as train all day every day as he will get bored!

In terms of others.... Again, really friendly with all sorts of people, kids, postman, ect. He will jump up which we are trying to limit as much as possible. But again, doing really well. After purchasing Jake we also went hell for leather and decided that he needed a "friend" walk in Colin the Cat!!! Now, they seem to be "okay". Colin is 2 weeks younger than Jake, and obviously a lot smaller!! Now, we do not leave them unattended yet, Jake is still very very playful (He is a puppy!!) and somebodys is a little rough with Colin- Has anybody had experience with introducing cats and dogs? With other dogs, this is a funny one.... Dogs on the shoot, brilliant, alert, on command great dog. In the park, huh, different story!! Well, not as much as that seems. In the park this is his "puppy play time" and is getting on okay with the oher dogs.

Well, thats about all- sorry if I have bored you with this long post, just read through it and didnt relise it was this long!!

Will keep you all posted!

Carly.

Sounds like he is doing really well My 16 month old is roughly at the same stage

you're talking Welshie though

ARRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Slowly losing control!!

Dearest all,

Im back, again! Right, I am in yet another pickle with Jake- 19week old Springer....

To be honest, he is a working dog, therefore my partner takes the lead in terms of training and development. He spends alot of time with Jake. However these past few days or so when I have asked Jake to do things (sit, stay, walk on, heel ect) he has totally ignored me!! Now, this only happens when my partner is in the area, just me and Jake he is great.

Any suggestions?

Today, we are looking at taking him out where I do the commands and my partner takes a back seat like I would normally do!! However anything else you can offer please feel welcome!!

HELP!!!!

Carly

Charlie my Springer is 5.5 months old also does this but the other way round. We've had him for 4 weeks and I do all of the training, consequently if my other half asks him to sit he looks at me first to see whether or not he needs to. If I raise my hand in the sit command position (so I don't verbally repeat the command) he sits, if I do nothing he does nothing. If I'm not there then he will listen to Paul.

I'm not sure this is very surprising, our Collie does it the other way round as Paul did most of his training. I think when training a dog you establish a very close bond with them, you ask them to listen to you, and only you, so they then always look to you for commands. Jake spends his time in a kennel, comes out and mainly interacts with your other half he is, IMO, bound to listen to him and look to him over you due to spending more time with him.

I'm not sure of a way around this, some of the more experienced people on here might be able to help. We are training to a whistle for most things so that it's easier for who ever is walking them at the time, there is no voice difference, however this a work in progress!

Good luck.

Hi Carly

I've been reading through your posts and IMO I think you are doing far too much with little Jake, he's still only a puppy, once you've got the basic commands in use this in everyday puppy play and walks but please don't expect too much from him, he's going to switch off and totally ignore not just you but your partner as well if you continue to ask too much of him. At 19 weeks old just be pleased he's obeying basic commands, some Springers reach a much older age and still aren't mentally able to do these things consistently! At the moment he is NOT a working dog, he is still a puppy, who if you take things nice and slowly will eventually become a good working dog

If you get your training right then no matter who your dog works for he will still work and obey commands from them as long as they use the same methods you use. A same pitched whistle is used by the people working him and is essential if you want your dog to work for more than one person, the end game is to have your dog working to whistle commands so when out in the field you aren't bawling your head off with voice commands

Good luck and ease off him a bit would be my advice. I've been doing this for many a year and have seen too many people ruin a potentially good dog with pushing it too fast too soon.

Sandy

Great advice sandy
Enjoy your puppy let him be a puppy
Gundog training shouldn't really start until at least 12 month old.
Basic commands and recall to the whistle are their first learning curve to master.
Also keep in mind that just because he/she is a working springer doesn't mean to say that they will become a great gun dog.
My dottie has a fantastic working pedigree 36 field trial champions in her 5 generation pedigree but she is gun shy and could never be worked. Saying this she is clever has 100% recall and loves life she's our girl